When was the last time you spent an entire day without your phone? Can you remember the last time you went on a road trip with a physical map? A physical map instead of a Google map to guide you through the unknown? It’s probably difficult to remember because we rely on technology every day. Technology has improved the automotive industry immensely. We’ll discuss how it even made driving easier and ultimately more enjoyable. The car industry is coming up with new and exciting features every day, from built-in dashboards and front and reverse cameras to even AI in cars. Here are some of the most accessible technological advancements which have transformed everyday driving.
Cars are safer
Let’s start with the most obvious, modern cars are safer today than ever before. Technology has significantly impacted car safety because cars are more thoroughly tested before they hit the market. Not only that, but people can rely on different driving assistance tools like Advanced Driver Assistance, cameras, parking assistance, automatic brakes, airbags and others. Nevertheless, the skill and the attention needed during each car driving session are irreplaceable. If these are combined with technological advancements, cars become safer and each drive is an enjoyable experience.
Navigation
We’re no longer looking at physical maps, we’re using Google Maps to find our way in the unknown. Can you even imagine yourself stopping on the street to take out your paper map, pinpoint your current location, find your desired location, and determine the best route? You could, but only if you had this experience in the past. If you never used paper maps for navigation, your only experience is probably using GPS navigation.
This has made driving and travelling 100% easier because you’ll easily find your way and never feel stressed if you get lost. The only disadvantage of using your phone for navigation is that the battery can run out very fast. The solution to this problem is to have a portable GPS dashboard or a built-in dashboard, as these are powered by your car.
Automatic Emergency Braking
You must be vigilant, alert and ready to make fast decisions when driving. Hitting the brakes hard in the case of an emergency will be a necessity at times. Whether the one in front of you suddenly starts slowing down, so you need to avoid the collision by hitting the breaks, or someone runs in front of your car, you’ll have to be prepared for this scenario.: Many new vehicles are now equipped with automatic emergency braking systems, which can detect when a collision is coming and automatically apply the brakes to avoid or mitigate the impact. This technology greatly reduces the risk of accidents and can save lives.
Adaptive cruise control
Adaptive cruise control is another new car feature that increases driving safety. It uses sensors, cameras and radar to determine if the vehicle in front of you is too fast. That is, if you’re driving closer, you should allow your vehicle some safe distance as a precaution. The car will use this technology to assess the distance and adjust its speed accordingly. This feature is helpful during those long drives when you can get bored or even distracted.
Camera assistance
You no longer have to crane your neck while parking because you can use rear-view cameras to assess your parking possibilities better. You can be more confident in your driving skills because you’ll have a view of the so-called blind spots, which are dangerous. If your vehicle isn’t already equipped with a front and rear camera, or you might have a front one, but you could also get a caravan reverse camera, there’s a variety of models out there. Whenever you need to drive your vehicle in reverse, whether it’s for parking or to back up a bit, you can have a clear view of what’s happening behind them and get notified when you’re too close, or the space is too tight for the safe maneuvering to take place.
Automatic headlight
Even those who’ve spent years and years behind a vehicle can forget to turn on the headlights. Drivers with fresh driving experience can forget to turn on the headlights because it will take some time for them to do these things automatically. But, when you have an automatic headlight system in your car, it will use sensors to detect when it’s getting dark and turn the headlights on automatically. This technology can prevent accidents caused by poor visibility and ensure that the driver’s headlights are always on when they need to be.
Automatic Windshield Wipers
Wouldn’t it be nice if your car could take care of your windshield for you just as the rain starts falling? Especially if you hate the rain, you might become more nervous while you drive and get in a bad mood. Even though you couldn’t possibly drive without turning on the windshield wipers, it’s easier if they turn on automatically. You’ll feel safer and stress-free if sensors detect when it’s raining and turn the wipers on automatically. Automatic windshield vipers decrease accidents caused by poor visibility. They also ensure that the driver’s windshield is always clear when they need it to be.
Electric cars
People who are in a position to buy a new car today have a range of options to choose from. One option is to purchase an electric car, as these are becoming more and more accessible to an average joe. This kind of vehicle is increasingly popular and quite common on the streets. They are quieter than a regular cars, so they reduce noise pollution or at least don’t contribute as much. They accelerate more smoothly and quickly because they have instant torque. Above all, they are more eco-friendly as they use electric power instead of fossil fuel.
All of these technological advancements have made driving a safer experience. All of these new trends also require us to step up and learn how to integrate them into our driving. So, a user manual shouldn’t be skipped if you want to benefit from these new features. But it’s also smart to become a skilled driver using traditional techniques like mirror monitoring, being vigilant, not using your phone, driving within the speed limit and being kind to others on the road with you.